Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-11-10
THURSDAY, NOV. 10. 1887.
The Prohibition and the Labor

The Prohibition and the LABOR
The two elements in the fall cleo
tions which will attract most atten-
tion are the Prohibition and the Labor
vote. They are, of course, mere side
shows attached to the two great Ma
tional political eircuses. For some
years past Prohibition has been the
Nemesis of the Republican party, and
with each successive campaign, it de-
velopes an increased influence which
already nearly holds the balance OF
power between that party and the
Democr acy, the other National politi-
cal or ganization. twas the Prohib-
ition vote in New York which gave
that State to Mr.. Cleveland in 1884,
and thus gave him the Presidency. In
the election just closed in the Empire
State, the vote of the teetotal wing OF
the Re publican party which was cast
for DR.. Huntington, would, II
cast for Colonel Grant, have
elected him. There are three States
in the Union where by constitutional
provision the sale and manufacture OF
alcoholic beverages are forbidden.
They are Rhode Island, Maine and
Kansas-all Republican States. Iowa,
Dakota Territory, Michigan, Vermont
and Wisconsin, all Republican in their
political bias, have local option clauses
in their Constitutions, and these
measures are stringently enforced i'll
coun ry villages and small towns.
California has local option Law on its
statute books, passed under Repubil-
can influence.
A few Democratic States have such
enact m nts, but these are all south OF
Mason a. Dixon's Line. The real
reason for the adoption OF such
a measure in Florida, Arkansas
and other Southern States, is not IN
opposition to liquor per Sc. Those who
vote against the saloon in these states
use liquor in their own houses. But
the large negro population, lacking in
the restraints of higher education,
of the possession of property, and
other considerations which raise the
value we set on life, makes the open
sal on, and free access to liquor at all
hours of the day and night, danger
to society.
The Republican party at the outset
attracted to it all sorts OF chimerical
reformers. Promises were made to all
sorts OF factions. 1t was, OF course,
impra actical-impossible to keep them
all. Among those who came as po-
litical bankrupts to this cave OF Adul-
lam, were the Prohibition people.
Promises were made them, which
the Republican party found it in
convenient to keep. After hope de-
ferred so long that the teetotal heart
became very sick, revolt was set on
foot to compel the Republican party
to adopt Prohibition as an integral
part of its political creed. This is the
meaning OF the present admirable
organization of the advocates of cold
water as . steady article of diet. tits
very plain to see that Prohibitionists
have the whip hand of the party, and
will make it take water. If it does
not, defeat stares Republicanism in
the face, and that organization cannot
escape its fate.
To offset this Old Man of the Sea
which is riding on the back OF the
Republican party, the Workingmen's
movement was organized to draw
away from the Democracy enough
votes to counteract the Prohibition
detection from the other party. This
device for a while worked well in
places. LII gave Saiiioiiia W liC
Republicans for while. 1t had the
same effect in other States. But in
spite of fair warning-disinterestedly
given on our part-to the effect
that the labor movement might prove
a boomerang in the Republican camp,
Kearney with his wild-eyed crowd,
Henry George and his chimerical
theorists, and the Chicago An
archists with their bombs, were all
pctted and encouraged by the Repub-
lican press and party, in the hope OF
defeating the Democratic party. The
warnings of conservative Democratic
papers and OF Democratic leaders have
proyed we'll founded. Republicans
now confess that in the
elections of Tuesday they were defeat
ed because, in addition to the large
Prohibition vote cast, two out OF three
OF the votes cast for George in New